APDS ammo

APDS was orginally designed as an anti-tank or anti-armor munition. It is used today mainly in the Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems for ship-based missile defense. In its smaller form 7.62mm Saboted Light Armor Penetrator is similar to the .50 caliber BMG SLAP round (M903) used in the US M2 heavy machine gun.

APDS ammo is the bane of ballistic forensics. Discarding sabot bullets do not show any rifling characteristics. The sabot itself is what comes in contact with the barrel, and it discards from the bullet prior to impact.